title: The role of triglycerides in cardiovascular risk.
abstract: Triglycerides' role in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk assessment has long been debated. Although meta-analyses have suggested that triglycerides are an independent risk factor for CHD, a consensus has emerged that triglycerides more appropriately represent a biomarker of CHD risk rather than an independent risk factor. Ongoing studies will determine whether triglyceride lowering confers additional CHD benefit beyond that attained via low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reduction. The American Diabetes Association presently recommends lowering elevated triglycerides as a secondary therapeutic target after LDL cholesterol, whereas other organizations, such as the National Cholesterol Education Program, recommend non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as the second priority after attaining the LDL cholesterol goal. However, reducing very high triglycerides (ie, > 500 mg/dL) remains a sufficiently high priority in affected individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Maryland Hospital, Division of Cardiology, Room S3B06, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Puneet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gandotra
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000187:drug effects; D002995:Clofibric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008019:Life Style; D009525:Niacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D009525:Niacin; D002995:Clofibric Acid